Aviation authority, DGCA, includes blacklisted Chinese drones in their database, assigning UINs to over 8,700 DJI drones
The issue of uncertified Chinese drones operating within India's borders remains a concern, despite strict regulations and a ban on their import. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has registered over 8,700 Chinese drones, with many of these being used for commercial purposes and available on various platforms across major Indian cities.
The DGCA's official website provides details of these Chinese drones, including serial number, owner, Unique Identification Number (UIN), type, and weight. However, the widespread grant of UINs and the availability of imported Chinese drones allow China continuous access to countrywide geo-tagged images and videos, which raises security concerns.
Interestingly, illegally imported DJI drones carry DGCA-provided UINs, a fact that contradicts the ban on importing Chinese drones issued by the DGFT on February 9, 2022. The DGCA's actions in issuing UINs to smuggled Chinese DJI drones also contravene the ban on importing these drones.
The proliferation of Chinese imported drones violates the Drone Rules, 2021, which mandate registration for all drones, including nano drones. Any drone other than nano and model drones is required to undergo Type Certification, a technical and safety evaluation of drones carried out by the DGCA. However, obtaining an UIN from the DGCA for smuggled Chinese DJI drones takes only a few days, while the Type Certification process for Indian manufacturers takes lakhs of rupees and almost a year.
The reasons behind this situation are multifaceted. Porous borders and smuggling, grey market availability, limited enforcement resources, and the distinction between civilian and defense sectors all play a role. While the Indian Army and defense sector have taken strong measures against Chinese components in military drones, this crackdown may not fully extend to civilian drone markets, where uncertified imports persist.
Efforts to address this issue include tightening border security, accelerating indigenous drone industry growth, and conducting audits, especially in defense procurement. However, these measures have yet to fully eliminate uncertified Chinese drones circulating in the civilian market in India. The Drone Federation of India (DFI) has been actively pursuing this issue with the central government for over six months, calling for immediate and decisive attention due to the impact on India's security, technological advancement, and domestic industry.
On July 29, 2025, an inter-ministerial meeting headed by the Home Secretary will discuss the matter of Chinese drones being illegally operated in India. It remains to be seen what decisive action the Indian government will take to address this ongoing concern.
[1] Source: The Economic Times [2] Source: The Hindu [3] Source: DGCA website [4] Source: DFI statements [5] Source: Livemint
- The wide availability of imported Chinese drones, despite a ban on their import, offers China continuous access to geo-tagged images and videos within India, raising cybersecurity concerns.
- The process of obtaining an Unique Identification Number (UIN) from the DGCA for smuggled Chinese DJI drones is significantly faster than the Type Certification process for Indian manufacturers, raising questions about the fairness of the process.
- The Indian Army has taken strong measures against Chinese components in military drones, but the crackdown may not fully extend to civilian drone markets where uncertified imports persist.
- The Drone Federation of India (DFI) has been advocating for immediate action against uncertified Chinese drones in the civilian market, citing concerns about security, technological advancement, and domestic industry growth.
